Splicing Busts a Move: Isoform Switching Regulates Migration

Mithun Mitra; Ha Neul Lee; Hilary A Coller

doi:10.1016/j.tcb.2019.10.007

Splicing Busts a Move: Isoform Switching Regulates Migration

Trends Cell Biol. 2020 Jan;30(1):74-85. doi: 10.1016/j.tcb.2019.10.007. Epub 2019 Dec 3.

Authors

Mithun Mitra¹, Ha Neul Lee², Hilary A Coller³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
² Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
³ Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Bioinformatics Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address: hcoller@ucla.edu.

Abstract

Cell migration is essential for normal development, neural patterning, pathogen eradication, and cancer metastasis. Pre-mRNA processing events such as alternative splicing and alternative polyadenylation result in greater transcript and protein diversity as well as function and activity. A critical role for alternative pre-mRNA processing in cell migration has emerged in axon outgrowth during neuronal development, immune cell migration, and cancer metastasis. These findings suggest that migratory signals result in expression changes of post-translational modifications of splicing or polyadenylation factors, leading to splicing events that generate promigratory isoforms. We summarize this recent progress and suggest emerging technologies that may facilitate a deeper understanding of the role of alternative splicing and polyadenylation in cell migration.

Keywords: axons; cleavage and polyadenylation; metastasis; migration; splicing.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Alternative Splicing / genetics*
Animals
Cell Movement / genetics*
Humans
Models, Biological
Polyadenylation / genetics
Protein Isoforms / genetics
Protein Isoforms / metabolism
RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional / genetics

Substances

Protein Isoforms

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding